Abrams tanks damaged or disabled by T-72 in Desert Storm?

Question

Hi. A question for Gulf War veterans or US Army members.

There is an official US Army battle damage report (http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/du_ii/du_ii_refs/n52en520/7161_039_0000008.htm) about an Abrams hit by three tank rounds from a T-72 during Desert Storm. The damage was enough to send the US MBT to a maintenance depot.

There is also a pic (http://ar.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ciceronislingua/detail?.dir=/9a46re2&.dnm=8a89re2.jpg&.src=ph#pro) showing an M1A with at least one penetrator stuck in the rear right side of the turret.
The American tank markings match those of the 24th Infantry Division.
Do you think the damaged assessment is about the same tank?

OK man it isn´t for "no" or "yes", give me some details, please.

There is another link to the damage assessment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DamagedByAssadBabil.gif

Answer 1

It is hard to answer your question exactly. The US Army lost 18 tanks, 9 were repairable and 9 were totalled. Most of the losses came from mine damage. A T-72's main gun could certainly do considerable damage to an M1 but it was more about fire control and crew training than about what shell was fired. The US crews could accurately shoot on the move while many, if not most Iraqi tanks were dug in and just waiting to be lit up. Many of those tanks and other armored vehicles still sit in the desert where they were destroyed in 1991.

Answer 2

The Yahoo-Argentina photo looks more like a vehicle that hit a mine -- as evidenced by the damage to the tread and roadwheels, and the fire burning UP the vehicle. The photo quality is too poor to see a penetrator in the turret.

In most cases during Desert Storm, the M1's were picking off the T-72s before the Iraqis ever realized our forces were there. I only recall one meeting engagement, and the M1's outranged the T72s so badly that the Iraqis came out much the worse.

Answer 3

The first link I could not open.

I once had a picture of an M1 Abrams of the 1st Armored Division that was hit about four or five times by an Iraqi tank. None of the shells penetrated the armor of the Abrams.
I personally do not think the Abrams in the photo was taken out by Iraqi fire as they never got close enough to hit an American tank and destroy. My persoanl opinion is it a friendly-fire casualty.

PWL
2/2 Cavalry Desert storm

Answer 4

I dont have any links, but im thinking their were only 4 m1a1 Abrams diabled by enemy fire in the Gulf war. Whether or not these were by T-72's I do not know.

Answer 5

Y E S!!!

Answer 6

sure.